YOU CAN TAKE CONTROL
The YMCAs Diabetes Prevention Program (YDPP) helps those at high risk adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles and 
reduce their chances of developing type 2 diabetes. The YMCAs Diabetes Prevention Program is part of the CDC-led National Diabetes Prevention Program.
DJ Greg Gabbard of Classic Country interviews our Diabetes Prevention Director, Abby Helsinger, about a free upcoming event designed to help people understand their risk for type 2 diabetes. Listen to get the details on this great free event, and join us! Click the link to hear the interview.
YDPP is based on the landmark Diabetes Prevention Program funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which showed that by eating healthier, increasing physical activity and losing a small amount of weight, a person with pre-diabetes can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes by 58%.
In a classroom setting, a trained lifestyle coach will help you change your lifestyle by learning about healthy eating, physical activity and other behavior changes over the course of 16 one-hour sessions. Topics covered include nutrition, getting started with physical activity, overcoming stress, staying motivated, and more. After the initial 16 core sessions, you will meet monthly for up to a year for added support to help them maintain their progress.
Program Goals:
- Reduce body weight by 7 %
- Gradually increase physical activity to at least 150 minutes per week
Can I participate?
To qualify for the program, individuals must be overweight and at high risk for developing diabetes or overweight and have been diagnosed by a physician as someone with pre-diabetes.
Am I at risk?
Your doctor can tell you if you are at risk. He can determine this through a blood test with one of the following results:
- Fasting plasma glucose between 100 125 mg/dL
- HbA1c between 5.7% and 6.4%
- Random or casual blood glucose level of 240-199 mg/dL or higher
A combination of risk factors such as family history, overweight, gestational diabetes, elevated cholesterol, etc., may also put you at high risk.
The cost of the program is $200 for YMCA members and $250 for program members. Financial assistance is available for those who qualify.
To register or to find out if you are eligible, contact Abby Helsinger at 937-223-5201 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . UnitedHealthcare members should check with their employer for program availability, or contact the Diabetes Prevention and Control Alliance to confirm eligibility at 1-800-237-4942.